Apparatus and method for connecting device through image recognition in mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method for reading an image in a mobile terminal to establish a connection with a neighbor apparatus corresponding to the read image are provided. The apparatus includes an apparatus connector. The apparatus connector determines a neighbor apparatus to which a user desires to connect by reading a corresponding image, and establishes a connection with the determined neighbor apparatus.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Koreanpatent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onAug. 28, 2009 and assigned Serial No. 10-2009-0080400, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for shortdistance communication in a mobile terminal. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reading animage in a mobile terminal to communicate with a neighbor apparatuscorresponding to the image.

2. Description of the Related Art

Use of mobile terminals has rapidly increased since the mobile terminalsprovide a wide variety of services and convenience in portability.Therefore, service providers (i.e., terminal manufacturers) havecompetitively developed terminals having even more convenient functionsin order to attract more users.

For example, mobile terminals now provide functions such as a phonebook,games, a scheduler, a Short Message Service (SMS), a Multimedia MessageService (MMS), a broadcast message service, an Internet service, anElectronic (E)-mail, a morning call, a Motion Picture Expert Group AudioLayer-3 (MP3) player, a digital camera, and the like.

Additionally, mobile terminals now provide and support various servicessuch as use of a headset, playing of music, printing and transmittingfiles, and the like through a Bluetooth function, which is a techniquefor communication between terminals existing at a short distance.

To use a Bluetooth function, a mobile terminal first searches forneighboring devices that also support the Bluetooth function. After theneighboring devices are found, the mobile terminal performs a pairingprocess by determining whether communication with any of the neighboringBluetooth devices is possible in order to establish a communicationstate. That is, to use the Bluetooth function, the mobile terminal firstsearches for neighboring devices that also support the Bluetoothfunction, generates a list of the Bluetooth available devices, and thenselects a Bluetooth device for connection.

As described above, the mobile terminal selects a Bluetooth device fromthe list of neighboring connectable Bluetooth devices, and communicateswith the selected Bluetooth device to perform a service corresponding tothe Bluetooth device.

However, according to the above-described method, a user must search forBluetooth devices and select a Bluetooth device to be connected wheneverthe user desires to use a service. Also, the user of the mobile terminalmust view the various model names of the Bluetooth devices in order toselect and connect to a relevant Bluetooth device. Therefore, a user whois not accustomed to the model names may be inconvenienced whenconnecting to the relevant device.

Additionally, when the mobile terminal performs the process of searchingfor neighboring Bluetooth devices, the mobile terminal consumes power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide an apparatus and a method for intuitivelydetermining information regarding a neighbor apparatus to be connectedin a mobile terminal

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and amethod for reading an image to determine a corresponding neighborapparatus to be connected in a mobile terminal.

Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatusand a method for reducing a process of searching for a neighborapparatus during communication with the neighbor apparatus in a mobileterminal.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus forestablishing a connection through image recognition in a mobile terminalis provided. The apparatus includes an apparatus connector fordetermining a neighbor apparatus to which a user desires to connect byreading a corresponding image, and for establishing a connection withthe determined neighbor apparatus.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method forestablishing a connection through image recognition in a mobile terminalis provided. The method includes determining a neighbor apparatus onwhich a user desires to perform short distance communication by readinga corresponding image, and establishing a connection with the determinedneighbor apparatus.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal forestablishing a communication connection with a neighbor apparatus usingan image according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for storing informationrequired for establishing a communication connection with a neighborapparatus in a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process for establishing acommunication connection with a neighbor apparatus in a mobile terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a view illustrating a process for establishing acommunication connection with a neighbor apparatus in a conventionalmobile terminal; and

FIG. 4B is view illustrating a process for establishing a communicationconnection with a neighbor apparatus in a mobile terminal according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructionsare omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic,parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations orvariations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error,measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those ofskill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effectthe characteristic was intended to provide.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus anda method for reducing a process of searching for a neighbor apparatus,reading an image to determine a corresponding neighbor apparatus to beconnected, and intuitively providing information regarding the neighborapparatus during communication with the neighbor apparatus. In addition,the mobile terminal may perform communication with a neighbor apparatususing a short distance communication method such as Bluetoothcommunication, Infrared communication, PictBridge, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal forestablishing a communication connection with a neighbor apparatus usingan image according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile terminal includes a controller 100, anapparatus connector 102, a memory unit 108, an input unit 110, a displayunit 112, and a communication unit 114. The apparatus connector 102 mayinclude an image capturing unit 104 and an apparatus information storageunit 106. The portable terminal may include additional units that arenot illustrated here merely for sake of clarity. Similarly, thefunctionality of two or more of the above units may be integrated into asingle component.

The controller 100 of the mobile terminal controls an overall operationof the mobile terminal. For example, the controller 100 controls aprocess for voice communication and data communication. In addition tothe general operations, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, the controller 100 reads an image of an apparatus tointuitively provide information regarding the apparatus for connectionusing short distance communication. Additionally, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, the controller 100reduces power consumption of the mobile terminal by omitting a processof searching for the neighbor apparatus when using short distancecommunication.

To perform the above operations, the controller 100 controls theapparatus connector 102 to obtain an image of a neighbor apparatus towhich a user desires to connect. The controller 100 also controlsconnection with the relevant neighbor apparatus using informationcorresponding to the obtained image.

According to an exemplary implementation, the apparatus connector 102determines the type of neighbor apparatus to which the user desires toconnect by capturing an image or reading a stored image under control ofthe controller 100.

Additionally, the apparatus connector 102 obtains informationcorresponding to the determined neighbor apparatus under control of thecontroller 100 to establish a communication connection with the neighborapparatus.

The image capturing unit 104 of the apparatus connector 102 includes acamera. Using the camera, the image capturing unit 104 obtains an imageof the neighbor apparatus to which the user desires to connect. Theapparatus information storage unit 106 stores information required forcommunication corresponding to a plurality of neighbor apparatuses. Theapparatus information storage unit 106 may be included in the memoryunit 108.

The memory unit 108 includes, for example, Read Only Memory (ROM),Random Access Memory (RAM), flash ROM, and the like. The ROM storesmicrocode (i.e., code) of programs for processes and controls of thecontroller 100 and the apparatus connecting unit 102, and variousreference data.

The RAM serves as a working memory of the controller 100 and storestemporary data occurring during execution of various programs. The flashROM stores various updatable data for storage such as information of aphonebook, calling messages, received messages, and a user's touch inputpoint.

The input unit 110 includes a plurality of function keys such asnumerical key buttons of 0 to 9, a menu button, a cancel button, an OKbutton, a TALK button, an END button, an Internet access button,navigation key buttons, letter input keys, and the like. The input unit110 provides key input data corresponding to a key pressed by a user tothe controller 100. These keys are merely examples of keys which maymake up the input unit 110. That is, the input unit may includeadditional or different keys, or different input mechanisms throughwhich the user supplies input to the portable terminal.

The display unit 112 displays status information generated during anoperation of the mobile terminal, a limited number of letters, a largeamount of moving images, still images, and the like. The display unit112 may be a color Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), an Active Mode OrganicLight Emitting Diode (AMOLED), and the like. The display unit 112 mayinclude a touch input device. When the display unit 112 having the touchinput device is applied to a touch input type mobile terminal, thedisplay unit 112 may serve as an input unit.

The communication unit 114 transmits/receives a Radio Frequency (RF)signal of data input/output via an antenna (not illustrated). Forexample, during transmission, the communication unit 114 channel-codesand spreads data to be transmitted, and then performs an RF process onthe signal to transmit the signal. During reception, the communicationunit 114 converts a received RF signal into a baseband signal, anddespreads and channel-decodes the baseband signal to recover data.

The functions of the apparatus connector 102 may be performed by thecontroller 100 of the mobile terminal. Separate configuration andillustration of the apparatus connector 102 are for exemplary purposeonly and for convenience in description, and are not to be construed aslimiting the scope of the present invention. It would be obvious tothose skilled in the art that various modifications may be made withinthe scope of the present invention. For example, all of the functions ofthe apparatus connector 102 may be processed by the controller 100.

An exemplary apparatus for reducing a process of searching for aneighbor apparatus, and intuitively providing information regarding theneighbor apparatus to be connected during communication with theneighbor apparatus in a mobile terminal has been described above. Anexemplary method for intuitively providing information regarding aneighbor apparatus by reading a corresponding image is described below.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for storing informationrequired for establishing a communication connection with a neighborapparatus in a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile terminal captures an image of a neighborapparatus and determines the captured apparatus in step 201.

The mobile terminal determines whether communication with the determinedapparatus has been performed before in step 203.

If it is determined in step 203 that communication with the neighborapparatus has been performed before, the mobile terminal assumes thatinformation required for communication with the relevant neighborapparatus has been stored and does not store separate information. Themobile terminal then ends the present algorithm.

In contrast, if it is determined in step 203 that communication with theneighbor apparatus has not been performed before, the mobile terminaldetermines information required to establish a communication connectionwith the captured apparatus in step 205, and stores the determinedinformation in step 207.

The information required to establish a communication connection withthe captured apparatus may be a model name, an ID, a connection address,and the like. The mobile terminal may directly input the information ofthe apparatus to be connected, or omit a process of inputting therelevant information every time by storing the relevant informationduring initial communication.

After that, the mobile terminal ends the present algorithm.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process for establishing acommunication connection with a neighbor apparatus in a mobile terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the mobile terminal determines whether an event forconnection with a neighbor apparatus occurs in step 301. Here, the eventfor connection with the neighbor apparatus denotes an event forcommunication with an existing neighbor apparatus using short distancecommunication.

If it is determined in step 301 that the event for connection with theneighbor apparatus does not occur, the mobile terminal performs arelevant function (e.g., a standby mode) in step 317.

In contrast, if it is determined in step 301 that the event forconnection with the neighbor apparatus occurs, the mobile terminaloperates a camera that can capture an image in step 303, and captures animage of the neighbor apparatus to be connected in step 305. Here,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, insteadof searching for an apparatus existing in the neighborhood, the mobileterminal captures an image of the apparatus to be connected using theimage of the apparatus. In addition, as described above, the mobileterminal may load an image already stored in the mobile terminal toobtain the image of the apparatus without capturing an image.

The mobile terminal determines the apparatus captured by the user of themobile terminal, that is, the type of the apparatus with which the userdesires to communicate using the image (captured in step 305) in step307, and obtains information required to establish a communicationconnection with the apparatus (determined in step 307) in step 309.Here, the information required for the communication connection may be amodel name, an ID, a connection address, and the like of the apparatusto be connected. The mobile terminal may store information used forcommunication connection with the relevant neighbor apparatus duringinitial communication with the relevant neighbor apparatus, or storeinformation input by the user. Accordingly, the mobile terminal obtainsinformation regarding the apparatus corresponding to the captured imagefrom the information stored in advance.

The mobile terminal performs a communication connection process with therelevant apparatus using the information (obtained in step 309) in step311.

In step 313, the mobile terminal determines whether the connection withthe apparatus is completed.

If it is determined in step 313 that the connection has not beencompleted, the mobile terminal re-performs the connection process withthe relevant neighbor apparatus using the information (obtained in step309) in step 311.

In contrast, if it is determined in step 313 that the connection hasbeen completed, the mobile terminal performs communication with therelevant neighbor apparatus in step 315, and ends the present algorithm.

Though an exemplary method that allows the user of the mobile terminalto determine a neighbor apparatus to be connected using a captured imagehas been described with reference to FIG. 3, the user may determine aneighbor apparatus to be connected using a stored image rather than acaptured image according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views comparing processes of establishing acommunication connection with a neighbor apparatus in a conventionalmobile terminal and a mobile terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a view illustrating a process for establishing acommunication connection with a neighbor apparatus in a conventionalmobile terminal.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the mobile terminal performs a search process todetermine neighboring apparatuses with which the mobile terminal mayconnect and perform communication in step 401.

In the example of FIG. 4A, the mobile terminal that has performed theabove-described searching process determines that a television and aMotion Picture Expert Group Audio Layer-3 (MP3) player exist in theneighborhood using information received from each of the neighborapparatuses.

After that, the mobile terminal allows a user to select a neighborapparatus for connection. For example, assuming that the user selectsthe television in step 403 as an apparatus with which the user desiresto communicate, the mobile terminal communicates with the television toobtain information required for the connection in step 405, and thenconnects with the television using the obtained information in step 407.

FIG. 4B is view illustrating a process for establishing a communicationconnection with a neighbor apparatus in a mobile terminal according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the mobile terminal does not perform the searchprocess that was performed by the conventional mobile terminal, that is,a process of determining apparatuses existing in the neighborhood.

Instead, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,the mobile terminal determines a neighbor apparatus with which the userdesires to communicate using an image, and establishes a communicationconnection using information stored in advance.

In the example of FIG. 4B, the mobile terminal desires to communicatewith the neighboring television. To establish the communicationconnection with the television, the mobile terminal captures an image ofthe television in step 410. In an exemplary implementation, the mobileterminal may capture and store images of apparatuses existing in theneighborhood in advance. In that case, the mobile terminal does notperform a separate image capturing process each time the user desires toconnect to a neighbor apparatus, but instead loads the appropriate imagestored in advance.

Having obtained the image in step 410, the mobile terminal reads theimage and determines that the apparatus to which the user desires toconnect is a television. Therefore, the mobile terminal obtainsinformation required for connection with the television in step 412 andconnects with the television using the relevant information in step 414.In an exemplary implementation, the mobile terminal obtains theinformation required for connection from information stored in advance.

As described above, a mobile terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may reduce a process of searchingfor a neighbor apparatus, and intuitively provide information regardingan apparatus to which a user desires to connect by reading an image ofthe apparatus. In contrast, the conventional mobile terminal searchesfor a neighbor apparatus and provides a result thereof as informationregarding the relevant model. In addition, a mobile terminal accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may prevent a powerconsumption problem of the mobile terminal by omitting a process ofsearching for a neighbor apparatus.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. An apparatus for establishing a connection through image recognitionin a mobile terminal, the apparatus comprising: an apparatus connectorfor determining a neighbor apparatus to which a user desires to connectby reading a corresponding image, and for establishing a connection withthe determined neighbor apparatus.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe corresponding image comprises an image, obtained by the apparatusconnector, of the neighbor apparatus with which the user desires toperform communication, and the apparatus connector determines theneighbor apparatus by reading the obtained image.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the image of the neighbor apparatus obtained by theapparatus connector comprises at least one of an image stored inadvance, a directly captured image of the neighbor apparatus, and animage output to a viewfinder.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theapparatus connector obtains information required for establishing theconnection with the determined neighbor apparatus from informationstored in advance, and establishes the connection using the obtainedinformation.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the informationrequired for establishing the connection comprises at least one of amodel name, an IDentifier (ID), and a connection address of the neighborapparatus.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the information requiredfor establishing the connection comprises one of information used forinitial communication with the relevant apparatus and informationregarding the relevant apparatus input by a user.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the apparatus connector determines if communicationwith the neighbor apparatus has been previously performed.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 7, wherein, if the apparatus connector determinesthat communication with the neighbor apparatus has not been previouslyperformed, the apparatus connector determines information required forconnection with the neighbor apparatus and stores the determinedinformation.
 9. A method for establishing a connection through imagerecognition in a mobile terminal, the method comprising: determining aneighbor apparatus to which a user desires to connect by reading acorresponding image; and establishing a connection with the determinedneighbor apparatus.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determiningof the neighbor apparatus to which the user desires to connect byreading the corresponding image comprises: obtaining an image of theneighbor apparatus with which the user desires to perform communication;and determining the neighbor apparatus by reading the obtained image.11. The method of claim 10, wherein the obtaining of the image of theneighbor apparatus comprises obtaining at least one of an image storedin advance, a directly captured image of the neighbor apparatus, and animage output to a viewfinder.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein theestablishing of the connection with the determined neighbor apparatuscomprises: obtaining information required for establishing theconnection with the determined neighbor apparatus from informationstored in advance; and establishing the connection using the obtainedinformation.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the informationrequired for establishing the connection comprises at least one of amodel name, an IDentifier (ID), and a connection address of the neighborapparatus.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the information requiredfor establishing the connection comprises one of information used forinitial communication with the relevant apparatus and informationregarding the relevant apparatus input by a user.
 15. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising determining if communication with theneighbor apparatus has been previously performed.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising determining information required forconnection with the neighbor apparatus and stores the determinedinformation, if the apparatus connector determines that communicationwith the neighbor apparatus has not been previously performed.